LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KATV) — If you’ve been trying to eat a little better but still want to enjoy Central Arkansas’ restaurant scene, Arkansas Heart Hospital has a new way to make that a whole lot easier and tastier.
In honor of National Nutrition Month, Arkansas Heart Hospital released a heart-healthy restaurant guide featuring dishes from Central Arkansas restaurants. The idea April Ray, registered dietitian at Arkansas Heart Hospital, said is to help people enjoy what Little Rock has to offer “without sacrificing your health goals.”
Ray said the hospital partnered with local food blogger The Mighty Rib to put the guide together. “So he picked out 10 restaurants, and then from the 10 restaurants, he picked out 10 different dishes,” Ray said. After that, Ray and other dietitians reviewed the selections and highlighted what each dish offers nutritionally, including things like antioxidants, vitamins and fiber, along with what makes each item stand out.
Among the featured stops: Nexus Coffee + Creative, which Ray said has a “really great honey lavender coffee,” and Brewed in Barley, which she said offers a Korean barbecue salmon dish. Another pick is an acai bowl from All In A Bowl.
All In A Bowl owner Armando Bolanos said the restaurant has been in Little Rock since 2022, focusing on “bringing healthy habits for people with the meal plans, and also, all time, all types of bowls.”
The acai bowl highlighted in the guide can be topped with granola, berries, strawberries, bananas and local honey. Ray pointed out the colorful mix as a good example of “eat the rainbow,” and noted ingredients like blueberries for antioxidants and strawberries for anti-inflammatory properties. She also said some customers add almond butter or peanut butter for extra protein.
Armando said the restaurant also offers salads and noted it was voted one of the best salads in Little Rock.
All In A Bowl is located at 1501 North University, near the corner of University and Kavanaugh, in the Prospect Building. Armando said the restaurant is open Monday through Friday for lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and for dinner from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The restaurant also partners with DoorDash and UberEats for to-go orders.
“I just wanted to add also, we make all the orders from scratch, and they’re also made to order,” Armando said. “So even though they do take an extra couple of minutes, we make sure that is the best quality you can ever have.”
To see the full heart-healthy restaurant guide and the list of featured dishes, Ray said to visit Arkansas Heart Hospital’s website.
Dining and Cooking